This year, while attending Garden Walk Buffalo 2009, I took the opportunity to look beyond the beds and take in the neighborhoods and homes in them, many of which were in the process of being rehabilitated. What I noticed is that Garden Walk has brought tremendous synergy to its neighborhoods–not just inspiring flowers and gardens–but also a lot of house painting and, increasingly, house rehabs. As a matter of fact, I made my own path and found rehabs on the City’s West Side this year that weren’t even on the Garden Walk. Rehabs are an important sign to me of…
Author: dan_creahan
There’s a lot going on in a Red Tag Rummage Sale song. Sliding between the dark heat of cello/guitar dissonance and nearly feral rhythms punctuated by their raw vocals, they call to mind the best of post-hardcore and Midwest indie while recontextualizing it into a duo that could be one of the first “chamber-punk” groups the Queen City has ever seen. The husband-wife pairing of Lisa (Cello and vox) and Phil (guitar, vox, also of All Of Them Witches and Knife Crazy) Freedenberg have just released a full-length album, Body Maps, and have recently finished up a nationwide tour, so…
This Saturday, as the bloat from Taste of Buffalo fades, another festival will be gearing up. The Soundlab BBQ is returning for a second year of all-day music, dancing, and of course, hot dogs! One of my personal favorite holdovers from last summer, the festival manages to cram 20 bands into the day, as well as a late-night dance party from Shock and Awe. After seeing last year’s show, I can thoroughly recommend showing up to this one, especially if you’re looking for a refresher in Buffalo’s awesome indie music scene, or for the best deal in local shows this…
It’s been suggested that the poll itself may not give BR readers a chance to really tell how they feel about any given topic that happens to be up for a vote.Therefore, in conjunction with the weekly BR poll, we’ll make a post that allows the voters to elaborate on their choice. Beyond that, it occurs to us that, in the interest of making change (which we sometimes do), comments form a record of opinion that interested parties might just heed – for example, the choice of colors for the Wingate in last week’s poll as follows:While it’s not likely…
BR friend and fantastic photographer Glenn E. Murray, Esq., lets his camera lead him to all of the fun events going on in and around Buffalo.We’ve watched Glenn pick up speed as a photographer in the short time he’s taken up the art, and we think you’ll agree that the shots he got – the sheer expression! – with his newly purchased lens (price undisclosed in case his wife Laura is reading this) is well worth whatever it cost.Then again, with Murray behind the camera, everything becomes extraordinary Through The Lens of Glenn.Still, he’s a man of few (written) words. Was anyone…
Tomorrow’s monthly Party on the Portico at The Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society features Babik, performing upbeat gypsy jazz in the vein of Django Reinhardt. This fourth-annual summer happy hour series features live music, Flying Bison beer, wine, soft drinks, hors d’oeuvres, free 15-minute mini-tours of the History Museum, and great views of Mirror Lake, Delaware Park and the Japanese Garden from the steps of the museum. Admission for each Party on the Portico event is $15 for the general public and $5 for Historical Society members, including three drink tickets. The smoke-free series is exclusively for guests ages…
Last night, I must have encountered five panhandlers on Elmwood, and I did not give to any of them. I did not give, even though I have committed to practice the way of Jesus, and I know that Jesus commanded: “Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again” (Luke 6:30).So, by my own standard, I have failed. Of course, I am not the only failure. The fact that people ask other people for money on the street represents a societal failure, even if it does not excuse my…
I am happy to pass on this article from Tim Meunier of the Western New York Coalition for the Homeless (an amazing organization). This is an excellent opportunity to make a difference, not only in the lives of some homeless people, but for yourself and your city. I hope you will join me at Project Homeless Connect. Tim’s article: If your goal is to end homeless in Western New York within ten years, you’ve got to think big. And a major step in that process is streamlining the services that combat homelessness. On July 17, people experiencing homelessness won’t have…
By Jennifer Stachnik DVMPEF Board of DirectorsApproximately three out of four pets are overweight. With long, cold winters, multiple people in the house on various schedules who might not be sure if the pets were fed, and those longing eyes…it’s easy to understand why. However, it is very important to keep pets lean. In one study conducted by Purina, puppies from the same litter were divided into two groups. Half of the puppies were fed about as much as they wanted, while the other half were fed less to maintain a lean bodyweight. Both groups were followed for life, and…
The Town Pants, originally from Vancouver, will begin their summer tour tomorrow night at the Buffalo Irish Center at 9pm. If you’re not familiar with The Town Pants, you can listen to some of their stuff here. The group combines aspects of Irish traditional, acoustic pop, roots Americana, even Australian and Mexican influences to create their own brand of West Coast Celtic. Lively and energetic, The Town Pants mix traditional and contemporary Celtic-influenced tunes to create a fun show for the entire audience. If you love Great Big Sea (as most Buffalonians do), you’ll dig The Town Pants. Doors open…